Labelling machine



Get. 11, 1966 J. G. WESLEY 3,

LABELLING MACHINE Filed NOV. 28, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor John. G. WesIeg/ Y E L S E W G LABELLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28. 1962 Inventor John G.Wesleg/ 55' MW,

WM NWJQW w H Ev N: 30% w: I on K 6 F nu l|\|l I l fi I I L qm 4 v IF. W W F r 3 Oct. 11, 1966 J. G. WESLEY 3,278,359

LABELLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1962 6 Sheets-Shea 5 IOI I01 m4 05 Inventor Fig. John. fiflwesle d I 52/ Mm Get H, 19 J. G. WESLEY LABELLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 28, 1962 Irwenhmr John Q. Wesle 55g Mmww '1 11, 1966 G. WESLEY 3,278,359

LABELLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Jmhn G Wash-1 y 3 Mal M4 ,szMWwm .H'HmrneM United States Patent Filed Nov. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 240,579 15 Claims. (Cl. 156-351) This invention relates to a labelling machine for applying glue to labels, and subsequently affixing the labels to a cylindrical container or can, and the invention re lates particularly to such a machine that is semi-automatic in character and is adapted for use with cans of different sizes.

In the application of the labels to cans, it often becomes desirable to avoid the application of glue to the entire inner surface of the label because by doing this it is possible to eliminate blistering, wrinkling and other distortion in the label. In the past it has been customary in machines of the general kind to which this invention relates to apply the glue throughout the entire length of a label, and it is the primary object of this invention to provide a labelling machine that possesses such flexibility that the labels may be coated throughout their length or may be coated only at the leading and trailing edges of the label. Another and related object of this invention is to provide such a flexible labelling machine where in the machine may be set for operation with labels of different lengths and widths, and particularly it is an object of this invention to provide for simple adjustments in the machine which will serve to obtain the desired width of leading edge and trailing edge glue with any particular length of label that may be encountered.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a flexible labelling machine wherein control of the gluing mechanism is obtained in such a way that the various adjustments of glue pattern may be quickly and easily made by the usual operation of the machine.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof, and what is now considered to be the best mode in which to apply these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a can labelling machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a label;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the skip-glued face of the label;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken from front to rear through the machine;

FIG. 4A is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the adjustable support of the label register detecting photoelectric unit associated with the showing of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the driving connections from the various mechanisms of the machine;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the labelling station and certain of the driving mechanisms;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view showing a portion of the glue rolls and the associated lifting fingers for separating a label from the glue rolls in the skip gluing operations;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing additional portions of the mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the structure and mounting of the lifting fingers;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the structure of one of the variably settable timers employed in the machine; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of the controls of the machine.

For purposes of disclosure the invention is illustrated here as embodied in a semi-automatic label-applying machine 30 wherein a supply of labels L are supported in an inclined adjustable hopper H to be separated and fed one by one past a glue station G, and after gluing, to be guided into cooperation with a rotating container or can C that is supported in a label-applying station A and is rotated in timed relation to the advancing movement of the label so that the label L will be applied about the cylindrical surface of the can or container C. In a broad sense the label-applying station A is provided by a pair of constantly driven support rollers 32 and 33, the roller 32 being located on a fixed axis adjacent to and above the output side of the glue station G, while the other support roller 33 is mounted for adjustment toward and away from the support roller 32 so that containers of cans of different diameters may be supported in the desired relation by the two support rollers 32 and 33.

Under the present invention the labels L are fed one at a time from the hopper H to a register station R that is defined in part by a retractable register stop 35, and when the leading edge of a label L is engaged with the stop 35, such leading edge is located between a pair of constantly driven but normally separated feed rollers 36 and 37 so that upon withdrawal of the stop 35 and engagement of the two feed rollers 35 and 36, the label L that has been located in the register station is withdrawn and advanced to and through the glue-applying station G. This initial location of the label L in the register position is utilized under the present invention to enable control of glue application to the label to be governed and varied to achieve a skip gluing or intermittent gluing operation, such skip gluing resulting in a substantial saving of glue and being desirable in order to prevent undesired marking or wrinkling of the label in the final application thereof to the container C at the label applying station A.

In a broad sense, the glue-applying means at the glue station G tends normally to apply glue continuously from end to end of the label as the label passes through the gluing station, and means are associated with the gluing roll as will hereinafter be described for separating the label from the glue-applying roll during those portions of the label movement where no glue is to be applied to the label.

The machine structure in general As will be evident in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the labelapplying machine 30 has a relatively rigid supporting base or table T with a lower shelf 40 upon which a drive motor 41 and a speed reducer 42 are mounted, and spaced upwardly from the shelf 40, the table T has a top 43 upon which the main portions of the machine 30 are mounted. Thus the machine 30 has a pair of side frame members 45 that are located in spaced relationship, and in their rear portions, these frame members 45 have upstanding support plates 46 that serve as a mounting means for the hopper H and for other elements of the machine as will be described. The hopper H is provided by a sloping bottom plate 47 that slopes downwardly and forwardly and has a pair of adjustable side guides 48 to provide a hopper in which a stack of labels L are positioned. At its forward end of the hopper that is thus provided, the sheet separating means are provided,

and in the present instance this mechanism is of the top feed type and has an adjustable but normally stationary rubber retard roll 49 mounted on an adjustable axis in an opening 47-1 in the plate 47. Above the retard roll and on the parallel axis, one or more separating rolls 50 are provided that are fixed on a freely adjustable supporting shaft 51. The shaft 51 is supported in suitable bearings at its opposite ends, and the left end as viewed in FIG. 5, has a drive gear 52A fixed thereon.

Adjacent the gear 52A, a swingable arm 54 is pivoted near its mid point on the shaft 51, and near its lower end the arm 54 has a horizontal stub shaft 525 rotatably mounted therein. On one end the shaft 52S has a gear 528 fixed thereto and meshed with the gear 52A; and on its other end a rubber roll 53 is fixed to the shaft 52S.

When the rolls 50 are to be driven, the arm 54 is pulled rearwardly, and this swings the rubber roll 53 into engagement with a constantly driven knurled roll 55 that is fixed on the shaft 378 that carries the feed rolls 37. The rubber roll 53 is normally held in a retracted position by spring means, and when the separator rolls 50 are to be driven, the end of the carrier arm 54 is drawn to the left as viewed in FIG. by operation of solenoid SOL- 1. The actuation of the separator rolls 50- is then continued so long as the solenoid SOL-1 remains energized, and under the present invention the period of energization of the solenoid SOL-1 is terminated when it is determined that the leading edge label has reached the register stop 35.

The detecting means for determining when the label has reached the register position are in the present instance provided by photoelectric unit P that will be described in detail hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 4, the feed rolls 36 and the register stop 35 project through an opening 47-2 in the hopper plate 47, and the hopper plate or bottom wall 47 of the hopper H extends beyond or to the right of the opposed feed rolls 36 and 37 to a point just above the left hand side of a relatively large glue coating roller 60 that forms a part of glue coater 61 that is supported on the table 43. The location of the glue coating unit is such that the coating roller 60 is also located just beneath and somewhat to the left of the support roller 32, as shown in FIG. 4. As a label is advanced by the feed rollers 36 and 37 from a register position, such label L passes downwardly along the plate 47 and beneath a guiding and feeding roller 62 that is located just above the juncture of the plate 247 and the glue coating roller 60. The label L, as it advances, thus is guided into contact with the constantly rotating glue coating roller 60 and moves forwardly into position beneath the support roller 32 where the leading edge of the label strikes a series of spaced guide plates 65 that direct the leading edge of the label upwardly around the support roll 32 and into contact with a container C that is being supported and rotated at the applying station by the support rolls 32 and 33. Continued advancing movement of the label L causes the label to be drawn into the bight between the container C and the support roll 3-2 and then around the container C so as to be applied thereto by the glue areas that have been applied to the label as will be described in further detail hereinafter.

It is noted in particular that the separate roller 50, the feed rollers 36 and 37, the guide roll 62, the glue coating roller 60 and the support rolls 32 and 33 are driven at the same surface speed by means that are shown in FIG. 5 and will be described hereinafter, and further that the rolls 32 and 62 are spaced from the glue coating roller 60 so that the label L that is passing through the glue applying station G may be separated from the glue coating roll 60 during selected portions of the cycle to produce an interval glue coating action that will be described in some detail hereinafter.

4 The glue coater 61 The glue coater 61 has a relatively large shallow glue supply pan 66 within which a supply of glue is provided, and glue coating roll 60 is supported on an axis such that the lower edge portions of the roll 60 will run in the glue supply container in the pan 66.

The glue coating roller 60 is sectional in form so that it has a plurality of narrow cylindrical glue-applying surfaces 608 separated by a series of grooves 60G, and a groove clearing or cleaning roll 68 is provided that has complemental rings 68R thereon so that these rings may extend into the grooves 60G and clear these grooves of glue as the surfaces of the glue roll 60 move upward toward the glue coating position.

With the gluue coating roller formed as above described, a space is provided in the grooves to receive the portions of a plurality of arcuate control fingers 70, one such finger 70 being located in each of the grooves 60G and all of these fingers being mounted on a rock shaft 71 that is located beneath the plate 47 and to the left of the glue coating roll 60 as viewed in FIG. 4. The fingers 70 extend horizontally toward the roll 60, and have arcuate portions that may ride within the respective grooves 606 and with the upper surfaces of these arcuate portions located radially inwardly or downwardly from the glueapplying surface 60S of the roll 60.

Thus the several fingers 70 may be elevated from the position shown in FIG. 8 to the position shown in FIG. 7 so that the portion of the label L that is opposite or above the glue roll 60 is lifted out of contact with respect to the glue roll 60 and passes through the machine without application of glue thereto.

Near one end of the rock shaft 71, operating arm 74 extends rearwardly and then downwardly from the shaft 71, and the arm 74 has power means associated therewith for controlling the position of the several control fingers 70. As shown particularly in FIG. 4 of the drawings, this control is attained through operation of a solenoid SOL-3 that is mounted on the table 43, and which has a connecting rod 75 extended from its armature through a guide bracket 76 and is connected by a fitting 77 to the lower end of the arm 74. The fitting 77 is screw threaded onto the rod 75 for adjustment of the relationship between the solenoid and the arm 74, and between the fitting 77 and guide bracket 76, an expansive coil spring 78 urges the arm 74 to the left so that the control finger 70 is normally in a lower or ineffective position. The ineffective position is adjustably determined by means of an adjustable collar 80 fixed on the rod 75 for engagement with the right hand side of the bracket 76. Thus the collar 80 may be adjusted so as to maintain the control finger 70 just out of contact with the bottom of the groove 606.

The shaft 71 is removably mounted to simplify cleaning, and such mounting is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Thus the machine has a tubular support frame 81 mounted on the table 43 between the side frames 45, and on the frame 81 bearing blocks 82 are clamped. These bearing blocks 82 have aligned recesses 83 therein, and the shaft 71 has hubs 84 secured by set screws 84S on its opposite ends. These hubs 84 may be slipped into the recesses 83 to supthe shaft 70 in position, or may he slipped out of the recesses when the shaft 70 is to be removed.

The roll drive mechanism The motor 41 operates constantly when a main control switch S on the main control panel is closed, and by a port the shaft 70 in position, or may be slipped out of the speed reducer 42. The output of the speed reducer drives a chain 87, FIG. 5, that extends upwardly through the table 43 and which drives a sprocket fixed on the shaft of the glue roll 60. A gear 60C fixed on the glue roll shaft is meshed with pinions 62G, 32G and 68G fixed respectively on the roll shafts 62S, 32S and 68; and sprockets 88 and 89 on the shafts 68S and 33, and an idler sprocket 88A, mesh with an endless chain 89C so as to drive the adjustable shaft or support roll 33. The ratios of these connections are such that the sever-a1 rolls of the machine are driven at the same surface speed.

As a part of the roll drive mechanism, the upper feed roll 37 is driven constantly, while the lower roll 36 is an idler and is rendered effective by the shifting of the feed roll 36 toward the opposed driven feed roll 37. This shifting operation is accomplished by the same means which shifts the register stop 35 to its out of the way position. Such means in the present instance comprises an eccentric mounting 90 that may be shifted from its normal position shown in FIG. 4 to an actuated relationship shown in FIG. 8, and to accomplish this an arm 95 is provided that is connected to the eccentric and which is connected by a suitable link 96 which is connected to the armature of a solenoid SOL-2. When the solenoid SOL-2 is energized, the idler feed roll 36 is moved toward and into cooperative relationship with the upper driven feed roll 37, and at the same time the register stop 35 is withdrawn to an ineffective position so that the feed rolls 36 and 37 may cooperate to advance the label from the register position into and through the glue applying position, and then into the label-applying station A where the label is applied about the circumference of a container C. When the solenoid SOL-2 is de-energized the lower feed roll 36 is retracted in a downward direction and the register stop 35 is returned to its effective position.

The label applying station A As pointed out hereinabove, the label-applying station A is provided by a pair of support rolls 32 and 33, the roll 32 being supported on a fixed axis that bears a predetermined relationship to the glue station G and the coating roll 60, while the support roll 33 is arranged parallel to the roll 32 and is arranged for adjustment in a horizontal plane toward and away from the roll 32 so that containers C of different diameters may be supported and rotated on the rolls 32 and 33.

To enable such adjustment to be accomplished, the roll 33 is supported on bearings 101 at its opposite ends, and these bearings have downwardly projecting portions 1011 within which rotatable nuts 102 are provided. The nuts 102 are mounted respectively on a pair of horizontal screw shafts 103 that form parts of the frame 81 and are supported in a horizontal plane and which are held against rotation. When adjustment of the support roll 33 is desired, the nuts 102 are rotated in unison to move the opposite ends of the roll 33 toward and away from the output roll 32. The two nuts 102 are rotated in unison by means including sprockets 104 fixed to the nuts 102 and connected together by an endless chain 105,

As a part of the label-applying station A, means are provided for sensing the presence of a container C on or supported by the rolls 32 and 33. Such means comprise a roller 110 carried on an arm 111 that is fixed radially on a cross shaft 113. An arm 114 projects downwardly from the shaft 113 and at its lower end is adapted to engage and actuate a can sensing control switch S-l that will be described in further detail hereinafter.

In addition to the foregoing sensing means, a second sensing arm 115 is fixed on a sleeve 112 that is rotatable on the shaft 113. The sleeve 112 has an operating arm 116 extending downwardly therefrom in position to engage and actuate a normally open control switch S2 as will be described hereinafter.

The can detecting roller 110 is engaged as a can or container is placed in position on the support rolls 32 and 33, while the detecting arm 115 is arranged to be engaged by handle lugs CL that are provided on certain types of cylindrical containers. The relationship and controlling action of the detecting elements 110 and 115, and the switches S-1 and S-2 will be described in further detail hereinafter.

General sequence of operation When the machine 30 is to be set up for a particular size of container C, the support roll 33 is adjusted toward or away from the support roll 32 so that when a container is placed on these two rolls 32 and 33 the lower portion of the periphery thereof will bear the desired relationship to the sensing and switch operating elements and 115.

Also, the labels that are to be used are put into position in the hopper H in the proper fanned relationship so that the leading edge of the upper label engages the rolls 50, the hopper side walls 48 are adjusted according to the width of the labels, and retard roll 49 is adjusted according to the thickness and stiffness of the labels.

The next adjustment that is made is with respect to the photoelectric sensing unit P which has its photocell adjustably supported as shown in FIG. 4A. Thus the photocell is mounted within an aiming table 117, FIG. 4, that is formed as a radial arm on a horizontal rod 118, and by rocking the rod 118 in a frictional supporting block 119, the action of the photocell may be variably adjusted. This adjustment is in a direction longitudinally with respect to the hopper so that the label that is withdrawn by the separating roll 50 will come to a stop in the proper engaged relationship with respect to the register stop 35. This adjustment is accomplished by cut and try methods which involve operation of the separating roll 50 through several cycles in the manner above described.

After the photoelectric sensing unit P have been adjusted, the apparatus must be adjusted and set up to take care of the other variables introduced when a new size label is to be used, and also to take care of the presence or absence of lugs such as the lugs CL on the container that is to be labeled The first problem is to assure that the holes 120 in a label L that are to receive the lugs CL will be properly registered with these lugs in a labelling operation. The lugs of course cooperate with and engage the sensing lever at a particular point in each rotative movement of the container C, but this point varies with respect to the container iself in accordance with the size of the container and the precise adjustment that has been made in the position of the support roller 33. The actuation of the lever 115 by a lug CL therefore is utilized to initiate the operation of an adjustable register control timer T-I WhlCh may adjustably delay the withdrawal of the register stop 35 so as to attain the desired registry of the label openings with the container lugs CL. Thus, after the sensing lever 115 has been actuated by a lug CL, a predetermined period elapses under control of the timer T-l until the solenoid SOL-2 is thus operated. At this same time, a leading edge timer T-2 is set into operation, and the timer T-2 also is adjustable for a predetermined time period, as will be described. Such adjustment is made by cut and try methods so that after the leading edge of a label L has had glue applied thereto for a short distance, as at 121 in FIG. 3, the leading edge timer T-2 is elfective to cause actuation of the solenoid SOL3. The solenoid SOL-3 actuates the lift fingers 70 to separate the label L from glue coating roll 60 so that in continued movement of the label, no glue is applied thereto.

At the time when the solenoid SOL-3 is actuated, the timing cycle of the timer T-2 is terminated, and at this same time the timing cycle of a trailing edge timer T-3 is initiated. Here again, the timer T3 is adjustable, and this adjustment is made by cut and try methods for a period such that when the trailing edge of the label L is relatively close to the glue coating roll 60, the solenoid SOL-3 will be de-energized and the trailing edge of the label will be dropped onto the glue roll 60 so that a narrow glue application, as at 122, FIG. 3, will be applied along the trailing edge of the label. The label thus progresses into cooperation with the container C and is glued thereto only at the leading and trailing edges of the label.

After the trailing edge of a label L has passed from its position beneath the photoelectric sensing device, the photocell unit is conditioned to initiate another operation of the separator roll 50 by causing the solenoid SOL-1 to be energized for a preliminary cycle in which a new label is advanced into engagement with the register stop 35, but this does not take place until the labelled can C has been removed from the labelling station as will be described.

In connection with the operation of the solenoids SOL-1 and SOL-2, timers T-4 and T-S are provided in the present instance in order to serve as safety cut-out means, and this function will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The variably settable timers The variably settable timers T-l, T-2 and T-3 that are used are made and sold by Industrial Timer Corporation of Newark, New Jersey, and are identified as their Series TDAF timers, and since the operating characteristics of these timers enter into the way in which the present machine 30 is operated and controlled, the structure of one of the timers has been schematically illustrated in FIG. 11 of the drawings. Thus each of the settable timers such as the timer T-1 has a synchronous operating motor 210 which acts through a gear reduction 211 to drive an output shaft 212. Aligned with the shaft 212 is a control shaft 213 which carries an indicating pointer 214 on its exposed end in front of the calibrated face plate 215 of the timer. A setting arm 216 mounted on the axis of the shaft 213 in front of the face plate 215 is settable to different positions, about this axis and is frictionally held in its set position. ,The control shaft 213 is urged clockwise by a helical return spring 217 so as to tend to engage the pointer 214 with a stop 2165 on the setting arm 216, and in a timing cycle the output shaft 212 is frictionally clutched to the control shaft 213 to rotate the shaft 213 in a counterclockwise direction back to the zero position of the pointer 214.

When the pointer 214 reaches its zero position, a switch 220 of the timer is actuated by an arm 221 fixed on the control shaft 213. The arm 221 accomplishes this by engaging a lever 220L of the switch, and in turn the lever 220L engages a switch plunger 220P. The plunger 220P actuates a common switch contact 222 to disengage it from a normally closed contact 223 and engage it with a normally open contact 224. The contacts 222, 223, and 224 are connected respectively to terminals 222T, 223T and 224T of the timer.

The frictional clutch connection between the shafts 212 and 213 is provided by a clutch 225 that comprises a pair of discs 225A and 2253 that are fixed respectively on the adjacent ends of the shafts 212 and 213, and a rubber friction plug 225P on the disc 225A is adapted to engage the other disc 225B to drive the disc 225B. A coil spring 226 positioned between the discs 225A and 225B shifts the shaft 212 endwise to disengage the clutch, and a clutch lever 227 may be actuated to engage the clutch. Such actuation is provided by a relay 230, the armature of which engages the clutch lever 227 when the coil of the relay 230 is energized to engage the clutch 225, and this starts a timing cycle. When the relay coil is deenergized, the clutch is released and the pointer 214 returns to the position determined by the setting of the arm 216.

The timer has motor terminals 231T and 232T and the terminal 232T is connected to one end of the relay coil while the other end of the relay coil is connected to a control terminal 233T, and in the schematic wiring diagram of FIG. 12, the several terminals of the timers T-l, T-2 and T-3 are identified by the reference characters used in FIG. 11.

A characteristic of the settable timers that should be noted is that after the pointer 214 reaches its zero position and the switch 220 has been actuated, the friction 8 clutch 225 will slip, and the switch 220 will be held in its actuated relation until the coil of the relay 230 is deenergized. This characteristic is utilized in obtaining the desired control of the machine 30, as will be described hereinafter.

Operation and control circuits When the machine 30 is to be operated, a main control switch S is closed to connect line wires L-l and L-2 to wires B and W in the machine, and the operating motor 41 is connected across the lines B and W as shown in FIG. 12 so that the drive for the several rolls in the machine is constantly operated. Closure of the main switch S also energizes the photocell unit P, and the operating motors of the variably settable timers T-l, T-2 and T-3.

Thus as shown in the wiring diagram of FIG. 12, photocell unit P has its relay coil 300 and its photocell 301 connected in series between the lines B and W by wires 302, 303 and 304, while the primary of its transformer 305 is connected across the wires B and W by wires 306 and 307, and the secondary of the transformer is connected in series through the light 308 and variable resistance 309. The operating motors 210-1, 210-2 and 210-3 of the settable timers T-1, T-2 and T-3 have their terminals 231T connected respectively to the line W by wires 310-1, 310-2 and 310-3, while their terminals 232T are connected respectively to the line B by wires 311-1, 311-2 and 311-3. Thus the motors of the variably settable timers T-l, T-2 and T-3 operate continuously so long as the main switch S is closed.

The solenoid SOL-1 which causes the operation of the separator roll 50 is controlled jointly by the can sensing switch 8-1, a safety cut-out timer T-4 and the relay 300 of the photocell unit P. Thus, relay 300 has normally open contacts 300-1 and 300-2, and a wire 315 extends from line B to the contact 300-1, the other contact 300-2 being connected by a wire 316 to one side of the solenoid SOL-1. The other side of the solenoid SOL-1 is connected by a wire 317 to one contact of a normally closed switch 318 of the timer T-4.

The switch S-1 has a common contact connected by a wire 319 to the line W, and a normally closed contact of the switch 8-1 is connected by a wire 320 to the other contact of the timer switch 318. The timer T-4 has a motor 321 connected by wires 322 and 323 between the wires 320 and 316. The timer T-4 is used as a safety cutout for the SOL-1 circuit and it has a fixed timing interval of six seconds in the present instance. The motor 321 acts at the end of the timing interval to open the switch 318 and to automatically reset for a new cycle. The timer T-4 is of conventional construction.

Thus when there is no label at the register station, the photocell relay 300 has its contacts closed, and the timer switch 318 being at this time closed, circuit to the solenoid SOL-1 is closed when a previously labelled can C is removed from the label applying station A so that the can detecting switch 8-1 is released to thereby close its normally closed contact.

The solenoid SOL-1 remains energized till the photocell 301 detects the movement of a label into the register station. Actually the aiming of the photocell is adjusted so that it releases its relay 300 and de-energizes the solenoid SOL-1 when the leading edge of the label L is about A; inch away from the register stop 35, and the inertia of the parts brings the label into the desired engagement with the stop 35. The timer T-4 resets at this time.

When another can C is put in place at the label-applying station A, the can switch 8-1 is again actuated so as to close a circuit through its normally open contact, and this initiates a label gluing and applying cycle with respect to the label L that has just been moved into the register position. The controlling action of the can switch S-1 during the gluing and applying cycle is exercised in a broad sense through a holding relay R-1, and, in accordance with the setting of the manual lug switch S-3,

the can switch S-1 either energizes the relay R-1 directly,

or conditions a circuit whereby the relay R-l is energized by the lug microswitch 8-2. The register timer T-1 starts its time cycle when the relay R-1 is operated. The solenoid SOL-2 is energized at the end of the time cycle of the timer T-l, and in normal machine operation is deenergized when the labelled can is removed. The register time T-1 is necessary only when the machine is being used to label cans having lugs, and at other times the timer T-1 may be set for a short cycle, or for a new cycle.

The closure of the energizing circuit to the solenoid SOL-2 initiates the time cycle of the timer T-2, and when the leading edge of the label has been glue coated, the timer T-2 reaches the end of its time cycle, and initiates the time cycle of the timer T-3.

When the time cycle of the timer T-3 is started the solenoid SOL-3 is energized so as to lift the control fingers 7t) and prevent glue application to the label. This energizing circuit for the solenoid SOL-3 is through the switch 220 of the timer T-3, and when the time cycle ends, the solenoid SOL-3 is deenergized so that the trailing edge portion of the label is lowered onto the glue roll and is glue coated. Preferably the timer T-3 has a relatively long maximum timing period so as to enable relatively long labels to be handled by the machine.

In providing control circuits, FIG. 12, for attaining such operation, one terminal of the solenoids SOL-2 and SOL- 3, and one terminal of the coil of relay R-l are connected to the line B by wires 325-1, 325-2 and 325-3. A wire 323- connects the motor 321 of the timer T-5 to the line B. The other terminal of the solenoid SOL-2 is connected by a wire 326 to one terminal of the switch 318 of the timer T-S, the other terminal of the switch 318 being connected by a wire 327 to the common switch terminal 222T of the timer T-1. The energizing circuit for the solenoid SOL-2 is completed by the timer T-1 at the end of its time cycle, as will be described.

The relay R-l has a pair of normally open contacts 1 and 2, and a pair of normally open contacts 3 and 4, and a wire 330, extended from the other terminal at the coil of relay R-l to a terminal 331, has branches 330-1 and 330-3 connected to the terminals 1 and 3 of the relay. The contact 4 of relay R-1 is connected by a wire 333 to a terminal 334, while the contact 2 is connected by a wire 335 and branches 3'35-1 and 335-2 to the terminals 224T and 233T of the timer T-1.

The normally open switch contact of the can switch 5-1 is connected by a wire 336A to the terminal 334 so that when the switch 5-1 is actuated, circuit is extended from line W to the terminal 334, so that the energizing circuit for the relay R-l may be completed by bridging the terminals 331 and 334.

When the machine is to be used for applying labels to the usual type of can, that is one without lugs, the manual lug switch S-3 is closed, and by wires 336 and 337 extended from the respective contacts of this switch 8-3 to the terminals 331 and 334, the contacts 331 and 334 are bridged, and the energizing circuit of the relay R-l is placed under the sole control of the can sensing switch 8-1.

When the cans to be labelled have lugs, the manual switch S-2, which has its contacts connected by wires 338 switch 8-3 is opened, and the normally open lug microto the respective terminals 331 and 334, must thus be closed in order to energize the relay R-1. Such closure of the switch 8-2 is momentary, but once energized, the relay R-1 is maintained energized by its holding contacts '3 and 4.

Closure of contacts 1 and 2 of the relay R-l extends circuit through the wires 335 and 335-2 to the starting terminal 233T of the timer T-l, thus to start its timing cycle. At the end of its timing cycle, the energizing circuit for the solenoid SOL-2 is closed between contacts 222T and 224T of the timer T-]., and the feeding of the label from the register position is started.

When the solenoid SOL-2 is thus energized, the timing cycle of the timer T-2 is started. To accomplish this a wire 340 is connected between the wire 326 and one contact of the manual skip-gum switch 8-4, the other contact of which is connected by a wire 341, and branches 341-1 and 341-2 to the terminals 222T and 233T of the timer T-2. The timing cycle of the timer T-2 is set to be completed when the desired width of glue has been applied to the leading edge of the label, and at the end of the time cycle, circuit is closed to the between terminals 222T and 334T of timer T-2. Circuit from the terminal 224T of timer T-2 by a wire 342 and branches 342-1 and 342-2 to the terminals 222T and 233T of the timer T-3, and its time cycle is started and the solenoid SOL-3 is energized. This solenoid energizing circuit is by a wire 343 extended from the terminal 223T of the timer T-3 to the other terminal of the solenoid SOL-3.

The solenoid SOL-3 raises the lift fingers 70, and separates the label from the glue roll. The time cycle of the timer T-3 is set to be completed when the trailing edge of the label is about to pass the glue roll, and at this time the circuit to the contact 223T is broken, thus to deenergize the solenoid SOL-3 and allow the fingers to drop. This causes the desired trailing edge glue strip to be applied to the label, and the label is glued at 122 at its trailing edge to the can.

When the labelled can is lifted from labelling position the can switch 5-1 is released. This causes another label to be fed to register position as heretofore described, and also breaks circuit to the wire 336A so that solenoids SOL-2 and SOL-3 are dc-energized, the relay R-1 is released, and the timers T-1, T-3 and T-5 are reset. The machine is thus in condition to have another can C put in place at the labelling station.

Conclusion From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a can labelling machine that is adapted to be quickly changed from a skip glue arrangement to an overall glue arrangement, thus to enable the user to apply glue throughout the entire length of a label or to apply glue only to the leading and trailing edges, or only to the leading edge. It will also be evident that under the present invention the adjustment of the skip glue operation of the present machine is readily and easily accomplished so that the machine may be quickly changed for operation with labels of dilferent lengths.

It will also be evident from the foregoing description that the labelling machine that is provided by the present invention is also adapted for operation in labeling cans having handle lugs thereon, and more specifically it will be apparent that the present invention enables the registry of the openings in a label to be quickly and easily registered with the lugs on cans that are being labelled.

Thus while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated herein, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit a-nd scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, a label supply station, a register station, a glue applying station and a labeling station disposed in succession along a predetermined path, means for advancing a label from said supply station along said path to locate the leading edge of such label at a predetermined register point at said register station, means at said labeling station for moving an article to be labeled at a predetermined surface speed relative to said path, glue applying rolls at said glue applying station and constantly rotating at said surface speed, means including feed rolls operating at said surface speed for advancing and guiding a label from said register point across said glue rolls and to said labeling station, and means at said glue applying station for separating a sheet from said glue rolls to limit and determine the areas of the label to which glue is applied.

2. In a machine of the character described, a label supply station, a register station, a glue applying station and a labeling station disposed in succession along a predetermined path, a first means for advancing a label from said supply station along said path to locate the leading edge of such label at a predetermined register point at said register station, a second means at said labeling station for moving an article to be labeled at a predetermined surface speed relative to said path, glue applying rolls at said glue applying station and constantly rotating at said surface speed, a third means including feed rolls operating at said surface speed for advancing and guiding a label from said register point across said glue rolls and to said labeling station, separating means at said glue applying station for separating a sheet from said glue rolls to limit and determine the areas of the label to which glue is applied, a predetermined sensing means for determining when a moving article has reached a predetermined position with respect to said labeling station and operating to control said third means to initiate advancing movement of a label from said register station to said glue applying station, and timing means set into operation by said sensing means for controlling operation of said separating means in predetermined relation to the advancing movement of the label through said glue applying station.

3. In a labeling machine for applying labels to cylindrical cans and the like, a label supply hopper having a separating roll associated therewith for separating and feeding a label, a register station to which the label is fed by said separating roll, said register station having register stop and a pair of normally separated feed rolls, a glue applying station having a glue coating roll past which a label may be advanced by said feed rolls, a labeling station including a pair of parallel support rolls upon which a can to be labeled may be supported and rotated, means for driving all of said rolls at a predetermined surface speed and including a separable drive clutch means for driving said separating roll at will, control means for said clutch means including a can sensing switch at said labeling station and a photoelectric sensing means at said register station for discontinuing operation of said separating roll when a label engages said register stop, shifting means for engaging said feed rolls and withdrawing said registry stop, means controlled in part by said can sensing switch at said labeling station for operating said shifting means, an adjustable interval timer set into operation when said feed rolls are engaged, a second settable interval timer set into operation at the end of the timing interval of said first mentioned timer, and means operated during the timing interval of said second timer for separating a sheet from the glue coating roll.

4. In a labelling machine of the character described, a label supply hopper, means including a separating roll associated with the hopper for separating and feeding a label, a register station having register stop and a pair of normally separated feed rolls, a glue applying station having a glue coating roll past which a label may be advanced by said fed rolls, a labelling station including a pair of parallel support rolls upon which a can to be labelled may be supported and rotated, guide means for guiding a label from said glue applying station into the bight between the adjacent support roll and a can supported thereon, means for driving all of said rolls at a predetermined surface speed and including a separable drive clutch means for driving said separating roll at will, control means for said clutch means including a can sensing switch at said labelling station and a cooperating photoelectric sensing means at said register station for discontinuing operation of said separating roll when a label engages said register stop, means for engaging said feed rolls and withdrawing said registry stop to advance a label from the register station, said last mentioned means being controlled at least in part by said can sensing switch at said labelling station, a first adjustable interval timer set into operation when said feed rolls are engaged, a second settable interval timer set into operation at the end of the timing interval of said first timer, and means operated under control of said second timer for separating a sheet from the glue coating roll during the timing interval of said second timer.

5. In a can labelling machine, a register station to which a label may be fed and having register stop and a pair of normally separated feed rolls, label supply means for feeding labels one by one to said register station, a glue applying station having a glue coating roll past which a label may be advanced by said feed rolls, a labelling station having a first support roll in fixed position and a second support roll parallel to and adjustable toward and away from said first support roll to cooperate therewith in supporting cans of different sizes, means for driving all of said rolls at a predetermined surface speed, electrically operated engaging means for engaging said feed rolls and withdrawing said registry stop, a can sensing switch and can lug sensing switch at said labelling station, an adjustable interval register timer having a timing circuit for energizing said engaging means at the end of its timing interval, a relay operable when actuated to initiate the timing cycle of said register timer, a holding circuit for said relay including contacts of said relay and said can detecting switch, an actuating circuit for said relay including said can lug detecting switch, an adjustable interval leading edge timer having a starting circuit that is closed by said register timer at the end of its timing cycle, a settable interval trailing edge timer set into operation at the end of the timing interval of said leading edge timer, and means for separating a label from the glue coating roll to prevent glue coating of the label during the timing interval of the trailing edge timer.

6. A machine according to claim 5 in which means are provided for disabling said leading edge timer and said trailing edge timer when glue is to be applied throughout the length of the labels.

7. A machine according to claim 5, where means are provided for disabling said can lug switch and connecting the can detecting switch in said actuating circuit of said relay.

8. In a can labelling machine, a register station to which a label may be fed and having register stop and a pair of normally separated feed rolls, label supply means for feeding labels one by one to said register station, a glue applying station having a glue coating roll past which a label may be advanced by said feed rolls, a labelling station having a first support roll in fixed position and a second support roll parallel to and adjustable toward and away from said first support roll to cooperate therewith in supporting cans of difierent sizes, means for driving all of said rolls at a predetermined surface speed, engaging means for engaging said feed rolls and withdrawing said registry stop, means including a can sensing element at said labelling station for operating said engaging means when a can is put in position on said support rolls, a first adjustable interval timer set into operation when said feed rolls are engaged, a second settable interval timer set into operation at the end of the timing interval of said first timer, and means controlled by said second timer for separating a label from the glue coating roll to prevent glue coating of the label during the timing interval of the second timer.

9. In -a can labelling machine, a register station to which a label may be fed and having register stop and a pair of normally separated feed rolls, a label supply means for feeding labels one by one to said register station, a glue applying station having a glue coating roll past which a label may be advanced by said feed rolls, a labelling station having a pair of parallel support rolls one of which is closely adjacent said glue coating roll and upon which support rolls acan may be supported and rotated about its axis, means for driving all of said rolls at a predetermined surface speed, engaging means for engaging said feed rolls and withdrawing said registry stop to thereby feed the label from said register station through said glue station, guide means at the glue station for guiding the label into the bight between a can and said one support roll, means including a can sensing means at said labelling station for operating said engaging means when a can is put in position on said support rolls, separating means for separatig a label from the glue coating roll to prevent glue coating of the label, and settable control means operating in timed relation to the advancing movement of the label for operating said separating means when selected portions of the label are passing the glue coating roll.

10. In a can labelling machine, a register station to which a label may be fed and having a register stop and a pair of normally separated feed rolls, label supply means for feeding labels one by one to said register station, a glue applying station having a glue coating roll past which a label may be advanced by said feed rolls, a labelling station having a first support roll in fixed position and a second support roll parallel to and adjustable toward and away from said first support roll to cooperate therewith in supporting cans of different sizes, means for driving all of said rolls at a predetermined surface speed, engaging means for engaging said feed rolls and withdrawing said registry stop, means including a can sensing means at said labelling stations for operating said engaging means when a can is put in position on said support rolls, separating means for separating a label from the glue coating roll to prevent glue coating of the label, and control means operating in timed relation to the advancing movement of the label to operate said separating means while a predetermined portion of the label is passing said glue coating roll.

11. A machine according to claim wherein means are provided for disabling said control means when a label is to be glue coated throughout its entire length.

12. In a can labelling machine, a register station to which a label may be fed and having register stop and a pair of normally separated feed rolls, photocell means at said register station for detecting the presence of a label, a label supply means for feeding labels one by one to saidregister station, a glue applying station having a glue coating roll past which a label may be advanced by said feed rolls, a labelling station having a pair of parallel support rolls one of which is closely adjacent said glue coating roll and upon which support rolls a can may be supported and rotated about its axis, means for driving all of said rolls at a predetermined surface speed, engaging means for engaging said feed rolls and withdrawing said register stop to thereby feed the label from said register station for guiding the label into the bight between a can and said one support roll, a can sensing switch at said labelling station having a shiftable switch member that is normally engaged with a closed contact and is actuated by a can in said station to engage a normally open contact, means including a control circuit governed jointly by said photocell means and said sensing switch for causing feeding operation of said label supply means, means including a control circuit that includes the normally open switch of said can sensing switch for operating said engaging means when a can is put in position on said support rolls, separating means for separating a label from the glue coating roll to prevent glue coating of the label, and settable control means operating in timed relation to the advancing movement of the label for operating said separating means when selected portions of the label are passing the glue coating roll.

13. A machine as defined in claim 12 wherein means are provided for disabling said settable control means.

14. In a can labelling machine, a register station to which a label may be fed and having register stop and a pair of normally separated feed rolls, label supply means for feeding labels one by one to said register station, a glue applying station having a glue coating roll past which a label may be advanced by said feed rolls, a labelling station having a pair of parallel support rolls for supporting and rotating a can, means for driving all of said rolls at a predetermined surface speed, electrically operated engaging means for engaging said feed rolls and withdrawing said registry stop, a can sensing switch and can lug sensing switch at said labelling station, an adjustable interval register timer having a timing circuit for energizing said engaging means at the end of its timing interval, a relay operable when actuated to initiate the timing cycle of said register timer, a holding circuit for said relay including contacts of said relay and said can detecting switch, an actuating circuit for said relay including said can lug detecting switch, an adjustable interval leading edge timer having a starting circuit that is closed by said register timer at the end of its timing cycle, separating means for separating a label from the glue coating roll to prevent glue coating of the label, a settable interval trailing edge timer set into operation at the end of the timing interval of said leading edge timer, and having an energizing circuit for said separating means that is closed at the beginning of the timing interval of the trailing edge timer and opened at the end of said last mentioned interval during the timing interval of the trailing edge timer.

15. In a can labelling machine, a register station to which a label may be fed and having register stop and a pair of normally separated feed rolls, label supply means for feeding labels one by one to said register station, a glue applying station having a glue coating roll past which a label may be advanced by said feed rolls, a labelling station having a first support roll in fixed position and a second support roll parallel to and adjustable toward and away from said first support roll to cooperate therewith in supporting cans of different sizes, means for driving all of said rolls at a predetermined surface speed, electrically operated engaging means for engaging said feed rolls and withdrawing said registry stop, a can sensing switch and can lug sensing switch at said labelling station, variably settable register, leading edge and trailing edge timers each having a switch means that is actuated at the end of the set timing interval, and means including a control solenoid which when energized starts the timing cycle and maintains the switch means actuated after the timing cycle till the control solenoid is de-energized, means connected through the switch means of said register timer for energizing said engaging means at the end of its timing interval, a holding relay operable when actuated to energize the control relay of said register timer, a holding circuit for said holding relay including contacts of said holding relay and said can detecting switch, an actuating circuit for said holding relay including said can lug detecting switch, a starting circuit connected to the control coil of said leading edge timer that is closed by the switch means of said register timer at the end of its timing cycle, an energizing circuit for the control relay of said trailing edge timer that is closed by the switch means of the leading edge timer at the end of the timing interval of said leading edge timer, and electrically powered means having an energizing circuit including the switch means of both the leading and trailing the timers for separating a label from the glue coating roll to prevent glue coating of the label during the timing interval of the trailing edge timer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 701,229 1/1901 Strasburger 156-578 1,316,225 4/1916 Dewey 156447 2,213,704 7/1939 Hesson 156--447 3,063,408 12/1959 Gustafson et a1. 118258 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

J. P. MELOCHE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A LABEL SUPPLY STATION, A REGISTER STATION, A GLUE APPLYING STTATION AND A LABELING STATION DISPOSED IN SUCCESSION ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, MEANS FOR ADVANCING A LABEL FROM SAID SUPPLY STATION ALONG SAID PATH TO LOCATE THE LEADING EDGE OF SUCH LABEL AT PREDETERMINED REGISTER POINT AT SAID REGISTER STATION, MEANS AT SAID LABELING STATION FOR MOVING AN ARTICLE TO BE LABELED AT A PREDETERMINED SURFACE SPEED RELATIVE TO SAID PATH, GLUE APPLYING ROLLS AT SAID GLUE APPLYING STATION AND CONSTANTLY ROTATING AT SAID SURFACE SPEEDM MEANS INCLUDNG FEED ROLLS OPERATING AT SAID SURFACE SPEED FOR ADVANCING AND GUIDING A LABEL FROM SAID REGISTER POINT CROSS SAID GLUE ROLLS AND TO SAID LABELING STATION, AND MEANS AT SAID GLUE APPLYING STATION FOR SEPARATING A SHEET FROM SAID GLUE ROLLS TO LIMIT AND DETERMINE THE AREAS OF THE LABEL TO WHICH GLUE IS APPLIED. 